Liquid dispenser



1933- R. E. BECHTOLD 1,930,438

LI UID DISPENSER Filed April 17, 1953 a SheQt-Sheet 1 M II VVENTOR.

I ATTORNEY.

Oflit- 1933- R. E. BECHTOLD 1,930,438

LIQUID DISPENSER Filed April 17, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q2 he INVENTOR! Oct. 10, 1933. R, E BE HTOLD 1,930,438

LIQUID DISPENSER Filed April 17, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 3' Patented Oct. 10, 1933 PATENT OFFICE 1,930,438 noun) msrnnsaa Reuben E. Bechtold,- Fort Wayne, Ind., asaignor to Toklieim Oil Tank and Pump Company, Fort Wayne, ImL, a corporation of Indiana Application April 17, 1933. Serial No. 666,393

6 Claims. ((31. 221-95) This invention relates to improvements in liquid dispensers such as are employed at filling stations for supplying automobiles with fuel. An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for withdrawing liquid fuel from a storage tank and delivering it in a complete state of liquidity at the point of delivery and by which is accurately indicated the volume of liquid actually delivered upon each operation thereof. Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is afront elevation of a liquid dispenser in which the invention is embodied, a portion of the housing therefor being cut away;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation projected from Fig. 1, a portion thereof being broken away;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of a liquid displacement meter forming part of the dispenser;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatical view of the liquid pumping, metering and delivering and the air separating appliances used in the apparatus, portions thereof being in section;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the air separator for the dispenser;

Fig. 6 is a detail view showing a section of the check valve and outlet connection for the meter;

Fig. '7 is a detail view in section of the by-pass valve and its operating plunger for the supply D p;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail view of the choke valve for the air separator; and

Fig. 9is an enlarged detail view .of a relief valve disposed in the stem of the check valve, parts being in section.

The illustrative embodiment of the invention consists of a housing 1, its supports 2, base 3 and dome 3' within which housing is sheltered apparatus provided with suitable connections by means of which fuel is withdrawn from a storage tank 4 and delivered through a dispensing hose 5.

The apparatus consists of a pump 6 having an intake chamber 7 and an outlet chamber 8, the intake chamber having connected therewith a suction pipe 9 provided with a foot valve 10 that extends into the lower part of the storage tank 4. Upon the pump is disposed amanifold 11 provided with ducts 12 and 13-that have communicatlon respectively with the intake and out-- disposed in the duct 13, a portion of which projects into the intake chamber 7, and has therein a by-pass valve 16 that normally closes communication between the duct 13 and the intake chamber. The valve 16 has a stem 17 provided with a piston head 18 that has movement in the cylinder 14, and a compression spring 19 is arranged between the lower end of the cylinder 14 and a flange 20 on the valve 16 that tends to hold the valve in closed position. I

The duct 13 in the manifold has communication with a feed pipe 21 by which it is connected with a meter 22 of any suitable type operable by flow of liquid therethrough supplied under pressure by the pump 6 to the inlet 23 of said meter. The particular construction of the meter is immaterial as other forms than that shown may be employed instead without departure from the instant invention. The meter structure shown herein as an example is similar in construction and operation to that disclosed in my co-pending application, Ser. No. 663,543, filed I March 30, 1933.

In the drawings is shown a meter that consists of a cylinder block 24 and complemental housing 25 attached thereto in which are contained a nutating member 26 that has pivotal movement upon an adjustable bearing 27 and which is actuated by plungers 28 disposed in'the chambers 29 of said cylinder block and connected with the nutating member. The cylinder block has thereon a head 30 provided with a central port 31 that communicates with an outlet duct 32 in said block and has also a series of other ports 33 which have communication respectively with the lower ends of the chambers 29 through corresponding ducts 34 in said block. The ports 33 are exposed to the chamber 35 in the housing or connected with the outlet port 31 successively by means of a gyratory valve 36 disposed on the head 30 and operated by a pendent member 37 on the nutating member 26. The bearing 27 for the nutating member is disposed upon a post 38 that projects from a stationary table 39 which has an annular bearing face 40 concentric with said post and upon which the nutatingmember has rolling movement. The nutating member has an axial-stem 41 having thereon a spring-pressed cone 42 that bears against a stub shaft 43 which projects from the housing in alinement withthe bearing 27 whereby the nutating member is maintained in proper operating position upon its adjustable bearing and. said face. The upper end of the stem 41 is operably associated with a gear mechanism 44 that has a shaft 45 which is connected with a suitable counter 46. Said counter may be of any suitable construction such as is ordinarily employed in dispensing apparatus for indicating the quantity of liquid dispensed.

Within the housing of the meter is provided a duct 47 that constitutes a continuation of the inlet 23 so that the liquid enters the chamber in the meter housing at a point higher than the ported head 30, and a vent pipe 48 is. provided for the upper end of the meter housing for the escape of such air and gas as may enter the chamber with the liquid. The outlet 32 for the meter has communication with a dispensing line 49 through a connection 50 in which is located a check valve 51 that is'disposed to open and permit passage of liquid from the meter out through the dispensing line when the liquid is raised in the meter above a predetermined pressure. The valve 51 is normally held in closed position by means of a spring 52 and has a hollow stem 53 in which is disposed a backflow relief valve 54 that is normally held in closed position by means of a spring 55, the spring being retained in operative position by means of a plug 56 secured loosely in theupper end of the stem. The purpose of the relief valve is to permit a suflicient backflow of the entrapped liquid from the dispensing line into the meter to thereby relieve excessive pressure therein occasioned by a rise of temperature The line has a sight gauge 57 with which the dispensing hose 5 is connected, and the hose is provided with a manually-operated valve-controlled discharge nozzle 58. The gauge and the nozzle are of any suitable construction such as are commonly employed in similar apparatus.

The vent pipe 48 has in connection therewith an air separator chamber 59 with which the vent pipe has communication through a choke valve -60. The valve 60 is provided with a plunger 61 that loosely fits in a, cylindrical plug 62, and the tip of the valve when raised bears against a seat 63 in the plug surrounding the opening 64 therein,

and a small groove 65 is made insaid seat to provide a restricted passageway for the escape of fluid beyond the valve when closed. The choke valve is held normally in open pomtion by means -oi a spring 66 applied to the lower end of its stem and the adjacent, end of the plug. The plunger 61 is so proportioned relative to the. bore of the plug as to permit passage of a-normal quantity of air or gas beyond the plunger and through the opening 64 into the separator chamber, but the flt of the plunger in the bore is sufllciently close that flow of liquid past the plunger is restricted to such an extent as to cause movement of the plunger by pressure of the liquid and consequent closing of the valve against its seat. In this man ner the passage of fluid into the air separator chamber is substantially free when the fhiid consists of air or gas butis materially retarded when the fluid is liquid.

The air separator chamber has at its upper end an outlet pipe 6'7 provided with a flood chamber 68 which contains a float valve 69 for automatically closing the outlet '70 of the floor chamber.

The float valve is normally open and permits free escape of gas or air through the outlet 70, and is moved to closed position when the chamber 68 be liquid through the air a pipe extension 73 that extends upwardly in the. separator chamber 59 to a point abovethe normal liquid level therein so that the e of air from the vent pipe 48 into said chamber takes place without disturbance of the liquid contained therein, and a small drain back opening '74 is made in the plug 62 to permit seepage of liquid in the air separator chamber back into the vent pipe .upon contraction of the liquid in the meter and dispensing line due to reduced temperature of the liquid. The pump 6 is activated preferably by means 01 an electric motor 75 which is operatively connected with the pump by a belt or chain drive 76 and controlled by a switch operating mechanism 77 having an operating handle 78 located conveniently within reach of the operator as in the customary manner.

Operation In use, the pump is operated by the motor when the lever 78 is raised which closes the motor switch, whereupon liquid from the storage tank 4'is drawn up through the suction pipe 9 and supplied through the meter to the dispensing line 49 so that by opening the nozzle 58 the liquid is delivered to the customer. As the liquid through the meter, which causes operation of the nutating member therein, corresponding progression is imparted to the counter 46 and the amount of liquid dispensed is thereby indicated. Upon closing the dispensing nozzle the liquid drawn from the storage tank into the pump circulates through the by-pass valve 16 as the pressure in the outlet chamber and duct 13 is then raised to a point suflicient to cause upward movement of the piston 18 in opposition to the restraint of the spring 19. In this manner stalling of the pump and motor is prevented. 1

The liquid as it is supplied through the feed pipe 21 to the meter is relieved more or less of any air or gaseous content thereof out through the vent 'pipe 48 into the air separator chamber 59 and from thence through the outlet pipe 67, flood chamber 68 and the outlet 70 thereof into the atmosphere. Such liquid as may accompany the escapin air or gas up through the vent pipe 48, beyond the choke valve into the air separator chamber accumulates therein until such accumulation is suflicient to raise the float valve '12 which permits the accumulated liquid to be withdrawn from the air separator chamber back through the drain pipe 'll into the suction chamber 7 of the pump. While the air or gas admitted to the air separator chamber is permitted to escape through the outlet pipe 67 and flood chamber 68. Escape valve 54. As opening of said valve is restrained by its spring 55 the entrapped liquid in the meter, dispensing line and hose is sustained under more or less pressure.

By means of the apparatus thus constructed and operated the liquid drawn from the storage tank is delivered in a complete state of liquidity,

and the amount of the liquid actually delivered is indicated by the counter.

I claim:

1. In aliquid dispenser, a liquid supply means including a storage tank and pump connected therewith provided with intake and outlet chambers and a spring-restrained pressure-operated by-pass valve controlling communication between said chambers, a meter connected with the outlet of said pump, having a chambered housing and a check-valvecontrolled outlet and vent, an air separator chamber connected with said vent, a cylindrical plug through which fluid passes between the vent and separator chamber provided with a drain back opening and an extension the upper end of which terminates at a point within the separator chamber above the normal liquid level therein, a spring-restrained choke valve dis posed in said plug provided with a plunger loosely fitting the bore of said plug so that passage of air through said plug is permitted and passage of liquid therethrough is restrained, a drain connection between said separator chamber and the intake of said pump, a float valve in the separator chamber controlling said drain connection, an outlet pipe for said separator chamber provided with a flood chamber having an outlet opening, a float valve in said flood chamber controlling the outlet thereof,-a dispensing line connected with the outlet of the meter and terminating with a flexible hose provided with a manually-operated valve-controlled nozzle, and a spring restrained backflow relief valve between the meter and the dispensing line.

2. In a liquid dispenser, a liquid supply means including a storage tank and pump connected therewith, said pump having inlet and outlet chambers and a spring-restrained pressure operated by-pass valve controlling communication between said chambers, a meter having a chambered housing and a check-valve controlled outlet, a vent for the meter, an air separator chamber connected withsaid vent, a choke valve mechanism controlling the passage of fluid from said vent into the separator chamber, a drain connection between the separator chamber and intake of said pump, a float valve in the separator chamber controlling said drain connection, an outlet for sand separator chamber provided with a flood chamber 7 having a floatvalve controlled outlet, a dispensing line connected with the outlet of the meter provided with a manually-operated valve controlled outlet, and a backflowrelief valve between the dispensing line and meter.

3. ma liquid dispenser, a meter provided with outlet, a restrained relief valve disposed to permit" nected with the suction chamber of said pump, and

a float valve in the separator chamber controlling said drain.

4. In a liquid dispenser, a meter having inlet, outlet and vent. openings, a dispensing line connected with said outlet opening and terminating with a manually-operated valve-controlled nozzle, a check valve disposed to prevent backflow of liquid from the dispensing line into the meter, a relief valve automatically operated by the pressure of liquid in said line when said pressure is excessive, said relief valve being disposed when operated to permit backflow of the liquid from said line into said meter, an air separator chamber connected with the vent opening of said meter and provided with a choke-valve controlled inlet and a float-valve controlled air outlet, a pump for supplying liquid under pressure to said meter and having a suction chamber, a drain for the separator chamber connected with said suction chamber, and a float valve in the separator chamber controlling said drain.

5. In a liquid dispenser, a meter having inlet, outlet and air vent openings, a dispensing line connected with said outlet opening terminating with a valve-controlled nozzle, a check valve disposed to prevent backflow of liquid from the dispensing line into the meter, a restrained relief valve disposed to permit backflow of liquid from the dispensing line into the meter when the liquid pressure in said line is excessive, an air separator chamber having an air outlet and a connection to receive fluid from the meter vent, a choke valve for restraining passage of liquid through said connection into said air separator chamber, a pump for supplying liquid under pressure to the meter, a drain for the separator chamber connected with the suction side of said pump, and a float'valve in the separator chamber controlling said drain.

6. In a liquid dispenser, ameter having inlet, outlet and air vent openings, a dispensing line connected with said outlet opening terminating with a valve-controlled nozzle, a check-valve disposed to prevent backflow of liquid from the dis- ,pensing line into the meter, an air separator chamber having an air outlet and a connection to receive fluid from the meter vent, a chokevalve for restraining passage of liquid through said connection into said air separator chamber, a pump for supplying liquid under pressure to the meter, a drain for the separator chamber co'n- 

